These genius pantry hacks make the perfect Worcestershire sauce substitute with elements you have already got readily available. They style remarkably like the true factor!

Ever been halfway via making a recipe solely to search out you’re fully out of Worcestershire sauce? It’s occurred to me extra occasions than I’d wish to admit! After years of recipe testing and cookbook writing, I’ve developed just a few foolproof Worcestershire sauce substitutes which have saved many meals in our kitchen. The primary one is my favourite, and doubles as a vegan Worcestershire sauce!
Worcestershire sauce is a typical condiment that provides savory and sophisticated flavors to dishes from Caesar dressing to chili to the basic Bloody Mary. It was invented in Britain within the mid-1800’s. Its taste is tangy, salty, candy, savory, and a little bit funky ! Conventional Worcestershire comprises fermented anchovies, which provides it that particular umami high quality—but additionally means it’s not vegetarian or vegan.
And should you’ve ever puzzled how one can pronounce it — it’s “wusster-shir” sauce!
Finest Worcestershire sauce substitutes
1. Soy sauce, ketchup and white wine vinegar
That is my go-to Worcestershire sauce substitute that I’ve perfected over years of recipe testing. The mix creates a remarkably related taste to the unique, balancing all the important thing flavors: umami, tanginess, sweetness, and a touch of spice.
For 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce:
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- ½ tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari or coconut aminos)
- 1 sprint sizzling sauce (non-obligatory)
In case you have it, sizzling sauce provides a little bit of the spice that Worcestershire sauce brings from chili extract. You possibly can even add a touch of fish sauce, nevertheless it’s not wanted. Use tamari (gluten free) or coconut aminos (gluten free and soy free) as soy sauce substitutes.
2. Soy sauce or vinegar
In the event you’re in an actual pinch and don’t have ketchup readily available, this simplified model works properly too. In the event you’re in an actual pinch and don’t have ketchup readily available, this simplified model works properly too. Worcestershire sauce is primarily salty and tangy, so this mixture hits these two primary taste notes.
- For 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, use ½ teaspoon soy sauce and ½ teaspoon rice vinegar.
- In case you have it, stir in ½ teaspoon miso paste till it dissolves so as to add taste complexity.
3. Fish sauce
Fish sauce is a condiment constituted of fermented fish that’s used usually in Southeast Asian delicacies, just like the meals of Thai, Cambodian, Laotian, Burma, and Vietnam. It’s acquired a cool, tangy and salty taste that works as a 1:1 substitute for Worcestershire sauce. Nevertheless, Worcestershire sauce tastes sweeter and has extra notes of onion and garlic, so you may add a touch of sugar and onion or garlic powder if desired.
4. A1 sauce
A1 sauce is a condiment that’s sometimes used as a steak sauce. It’s a fantastic Worcestershire sauce alterative in case you have it readily available for the reason that taste profiles are very related, although A1 sauce is thicker in texture. It’s made with tomato puree, raisin paste, vinegar, orange puree, garlic and onions.
5. Balsamic vinegar and tamarind paste
This mix works notably properly in recipes that decision for a extra complicated taste profile. The aged balsamic gives sweetness and acidity, whereas tamarind delivers a fruity tang. Once more, including a pinch of onion powder and garlic powder can improve the flavors.
For 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce:
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon tamarind paste
- Pinch of brown sugar

Often requested questions
Completely! I usually combine up a small batch and preserve it within the fridge for as much as 2 weeks.
Sure! All the substitutes listed above are vegan aside from the fish sauce choice.
The soy + ketchup + vinegar choice is remarkably related! In blind style checks with Alex, this was the closest to the true factor.
Use coconut aminos as a substitute of soy sauce in any of those substitutes.
Worcestershire Sauce Substitute (Genius Hack!)
It tastes identical to the true factor! This genius hack makes the perfect Worcestershire sauce substitute with pantry elements you’ve gotten readily available.
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Prepare dinner Time: 0 minutes
- Complete Time: 1 minute
- Yield: 2 ½ tablespoons 1x
- Class: Necessities
- Methodology: Combined
- Delicacies: Vegan
- Weight loss plan: Vegan
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar (or ½ tablespoon white vinegar)
- ½ tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari or coconut aminos)
- 1 small sprint sizzling sauce (non-obligatory)
- Combine all elements collectively till clean.
Listed here are some recipes the place you may use this Worcestershire sauce substitute:
